Adjustable golf club



Aug. 11, 1931.

S. SAMARAS ET AL ADJUSTABLE GOLF CLUB Filed Nov. 10, 1927 M 5 H M I I 7 v 4 INVENTORS STEPHEN samnnns an LOUIS Rawzzn BY gm M3 6W ATTORNEY! Patented Aug. 11, 1931 .UNITED STATES S'II'IIJPHETN' BAMABAS AND LOUIS RAVIZZA, F OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA ADJUSTABLE GOLF CLUB.

Application nled November 10. 1927. Serial No. 282,249.

Our invention relates to a olf club, and particularly to a mounting, or the blade thereof whereby the blade may be variously disposed with respect to the shaft for pro- 6 viding in one structure the equivalent of a full set of metal golf clubs.

A general object of the invention is to provide a particularly simple and effective mounting of the class described.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide an improved means for releasably fixing the blade 1n set position.

A further object of the invention is to provide against an accidental release of the 15 blade from its set position.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form 2 of the invention which is illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by the said drawings and description may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to said drawings,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view of one embodiment of the invention showing the blade and disposed for the use of the club as a putter.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, with portions of the structure shown in section.

Figure 3 is a view showing certain cooperating parts of the structure axially separated.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view taken at right angles to the view of Figure 1.

Fi re 5 is a view similar to Figure 2 of a modified form of the structure.

As herewith particularly disclosed, the device of our invention is incorporated in a golf club 6 having a generally cylindrical ferrule portion 7 to which is adjustably secured a blade 8. The blade 8, it will be noted, is provided with a striking face 9, such face being suitably scored. The inner portion 11 of the blade is formed to provide a generally circular face 12 while the opposed ferrule portion 13 is formed to provide a generally circular face 14 for registration with the face 12, it being noted that the lane of the ferrule face 14 extends general y parallel to the axis of the ferrule. Extending perpendicularly from the blade face 12 is a cylindrical member 15, which member is arranged for ivotal engagement in a perforation 16 provided in the opposed ferrule portion whereby, with the pivot 0 member 15 engaged in perforation 16, the blade 11 may be rotated about an axis exterliding generally transversely of the ferru e.

Preferably, and as here shown, the ivotal e5 axis of the blade forms an acute ang c with the longitudinal axis thereof whereby the blade tip lies longitudinally outwardly of such axis, such angle preferably approximating 30 degrees. Furthermore, the pivotal axis of the blade preferably defines an acute angle with the strikin face 9 of the blade whereby such blade face lies about 15 degrees rearwardly of said axis. In this maner, the striking face 9 is arranged to be disposed in the most desirable relation to the handle axis when the blade is set in its various adjusted positions.

It will now be noted that the blade 8 is arranged to be held in adjusted position through an interlocking engagement of the blade and ferrule faces 12 and 14 respectively. Accordingly, these faces are preferably provided with interengageable teeth 17, such teeth being here shown provided in the respective faces to extend radially outwardly of the pivot member and perforation whereby the fullest possible and most effective engagement of the faces to prevent the rela tive rotation of the ferrule and blade will be provided. Furthermore, the teeth 17 are preferably of substantially square section whereby transverse thrusts between them will not tend to wedge the faces apart.

It will now be clear that with the blade and ferrule clamped together to have the teeth 17 thereof mutually engaged, a change in the angular relation of the blade to the ferrule requires an axial separation of these members to disengage the teeth 17, and then, 100

after the chan e is made, a reengagement of the teeth in t eir new relation and a reclamping of the parts together. Means are accordingly provided for effecting such release of the blade and its re-clamplng in adjusted relation to the ferrule, and, as here shown, the means provided for the purpose is arran ed to simultaneously and directly engage t e opposed blade and ferrule portions 11 and 13 respectively. It will now be noted that the ferrule 7 is formed. with sections 18 and 19 threadedly enga ed for relative movement axially of the errule. In the present embodiment the ferrule section 18 comprises the ferrule portion to one end,

of which the club handle is arranged to be fixed, while the section 19 provides the ferrule ortion 13 at the outer end thereof. To provide for the before mentioned threaded engagement of the sections, the section 18 is here shown formed with an axial bore 21 extending inwardly from the free end 22 thereof and threaded to receive the threaded extremity 23 of the section 19.

The blade ortion 11 and ferrule ortion 13 are each ormed as frustums o cones having their larger bases substantially at the planes defined at the bottoms of the teeth 17 and their apices in the axes of the pivot 15 and the pivot receiving perforation 16 respectively. In this manner, when the pivot 15 is disposed in the perforation 16, the angle defined by the conical surfaces 24 and 26 of the portions 11 and 13 respectively will be constant for the different adjusted positions of the blade with respect to the ferrule. Mounted loosely on the ferrule section 19 for interposition between the portion 13 thereof and the end 22 of the section 18 is a sleeve member 27, such member being provide at one end with diametrically opposed notches 28 shaped for a complementary reception of opposed edge portions of the portions 11 and 13 whereby it may, when urged thereagainst, wedgedly urge the portions together for a locked engagement of the teeth, it being obvious that the angle of these notches would be no greater than the angle of the surfaces 24 and 26 and might to advantage be slightly less. Preferably, the size of the notches is such that when the sleeve is disposed in its fully operative position the latter may extend to a point not far from the pivotal axis of the blade whereby the force of enga ement of the teeth 17 with the blade an ferrule portions'll and 13 respectively may be uniformly distributed.

Means are preferably provided for resiliently urgingthe portions 11 and 13 apart whereby when the sleeve 27 is backed off from its fully operative position, the portions will separate to free the teeth 17 from engagement to thereby permit a manual adjustment of the relation of the blade to the ferrule. As here shown, a spring 29 is utilized for the purpose, suchspring being operatively interposed between the portions 11 and 13 m opposed sockets provided in the portions, and comprising a spring washer 1s osed to encircle the ivot pin 15.

t will now be noted that the screwing together of the ferrule sections 18 and 19 is arranged to effect the o rative disposition of the sleeve 27 throu ii the movement of the end 22 of the ferru e section 18 to effect a thrust against the opposed sleeve end 31. Preferably, and as shown, a spring washer 32 is disposed about the ferrule portion 19 at the sleeve end 31, whereby, when the ferrule portions are screwed together, the washer 32 will be engaged between the end 22 of the section 18 and sleeve end 31. It will now be clear that as theferrule sections 18 and 19 are screwed together, the sleeve 27 and washer 32 will be forcibly engaged between the end 22 of the section 18 and the conical surfaces of the ferrule portion 13 and blade portion 11 and that a positive stop against the screwing together of the ferrule sections will be provided only when the portions 13 and 11 are completely en a ed and the washer 32 has been resser? Figure 1.

referably, and as shown, the coo rating edges of the opposed ends of the s eeve 27 washer 32 and ferrule section 18 are conically beveled in a complementary manner for assurin the maintenance of a coaxially centered re ation of these parts. The function of the washer 32, it will be noted, is primarily that of a lock, and such washer may be omitted, though its use is generally desirable. The threaded engagement of the ferrule sections 18 and 19 is preferably left handed for a club to be used by a right handed player whereby the torque produced on the ferrule when a blow is struck by the blade may urge a tightenin of the engagement of the parts rather t an a loosenin thereof. A right hand thread would 0 course be provided for a left handed player. It is noted that the club here shown is arranged for use by a right handed player.

Assuming the parts locked together as in Figures 1 and 2.and that it is desired to change the relation of the blade to the ferrule, an unscrewing of the ferrule section 19 from the section 18 will relieve the pressure of the sleeve 27 against the blade portion 11 and ferrule portion 13 to permit the spring 29 to force the portions 11 and 13 apart to clear the teeth 17 of these portions of their mutual engagement. The blade may now be set in desired relation to the ferrule, after which the ferrule section 19 is again screwed into the section 18 to effect the locking of the parts together in the manner indicated.

In the embodiment of Fi re 5, the ferrule is formed with thread y engaged secat, as shown in arranged to directly engage the latter for.

tions 41 and 42 as before, but the former is clampin its portion 43 to the portion 44 of the bla e. In this instance, since the edge 46 of section 41 which engages the portions 43 and 44 rotates circumferentially as it ad. vances, the parts of the ortions 43 and 44 which it engages sho d be s herically curved in the manner shown and t e edge 43 engages the portions along a circular lme about the portions. In this instance, the frictional engagement of the ferrule sections and the appropriate threaded en agement of the sections for tending to furt er tighten the engagement of the arts are relied on for maintaining the bl e. in locked relation to the ferrule. It is noted that this structure eliminates two members forming part of the first described embodiment-namely, the

sleeve and lock washer-and is thereby of still simpler structure.

We claim:

1. In a golf club, a ferrule and a blade pivotally and adjustably related and having cooperating portions thereof frictionally engageable, means operative to urge said portions apart, and a member simultaneously and similarly engageable with said portions andprojectable thereagains't for forcibly engaging the portions against the resistance of said first means.

2. In a golf club, a ferrule and a blade pivotally and adjustably related and having cooperating portions thereof frictionally engageable, and a member movable radially of the pivotal axis of said ferrule and blade and against said portions to slidably engage them for urgin them together, said portions being forme' to present the same contour against said member when the ferrule and blade are in different adjusted relations.

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto set our hands at Oakland, California, this 24th day of October 1927.

STEPHEN SAMARAS. LOUIS RAVIZZA. 

